Lower back/hip injured during surgery.

[nobody102]

(sorry, long). Last Friday, 7/11, I had an outpatient surgical procedure done to remove a large lipoma (benign fatty tumor) from my upper back, below shoulder (the thing was huge! Size of an orange). I had general anesthesia. Friday evening, after the effects of the meds wore off, I started getting some real pain in my lower back/hip. By Saturday morning, the pain was crazy bad, and I could not put any weight on my left leg, or really move it without pain. The pain from my surgery wound (a 3-4 inch insicion) was not really bad at all. My hip/back was killing though, and this pain was also while taking 1-2 Percocets every 6 hours! I then started taking naproxen on Sunday, still no relief. I was literally laying in bed crying. I should preface that 2/1 weeks ago, I did injure my back slightly. The day before the injury, I was walking on the treadmill ( usually walk at a fast pace and alternate between that, stationary bike and eplliptical). I am not in super-great shape ( 25 lbs overweight), but I do go to the gym regularly. So that day before, I decided to also do a slow jog for a few minutes on the treadmill. Nothing bad. The next day, I felt a spasm in my back. I had problems with my left SI joint a few years ago. Went to a chiropractor, that did not help whatsoever. I would get pain in my SI area when bending laterally from my waist. After a while, the SI issues more-or-less stopped. I had to avoid any high-impact type of exercise, so switched to the bicycle and elliptical. The day before my surgery, my back was feeling better, just a little discomfort. I am thinking that during my surgery, while unconscious, they moved my leg or body in such a way that my hip area or SI area was injured. I spoke with the staff at the surgeon's office, and they did not recall any issues moving me around. I am 100% sure that this injury was caused during my surgery, as it is not like I came home and went rollerblading. So on Monday, I went to see the orthopedist. They did an x-ray, all normal. Did all the various motion tests. Definitely some injury to the hip area and maybe lower back/SI. Put me on a 4mgx6 steroid pack and crutches. I am on day three, and no sign of improvement. I also have numbness on the top part of my upper leg on that side. I am sitting most of the day. There is almost no position I can lay in that seems to lessen the pain. I have a follow-up with the Ortho in a week. In the meantime, I am just miserable. Not sure what steps to take if this does not improve even a small amount in the next few days. I am assuming that since I have some numbness, there are nerves involved in my injury. I am not looking to sue anyone, just want to make sure my ortho is proceeding on the correct course of action. He also prescribed PT, which there is no way I can start yet, as everything is too painful. I am guessing if this does not improve in a few days, they will want to do an MRI of the affected areas. Any and all suggestions appreciated!

[nobody102]

I wish I could walk around the block!.  I am on crutches.  And can't put any weight on my left leg/hip still.

[nobody102]

Thanks for the reply.  

[philnoir]

Dear Nobody,

I'm sorry to hear of your suffering. I can't explain it either.

I hope that are being treated with more than10mg of oxyocodone q 4-6 hours. Other medication types may be effective.

Diagnosis is puzzle that involves four main pieces --

1. history
2. physical examination
3. diagnostic testing (optional)
4. The practitioner's experience. There's an intuitive aspect involved here that most physicians will not acknowledge, but without it, we're be at a loss 50% of the time.

For the record, I'm not a physician -- but used to diagnose every day. I was a veterinarian who treated large animals -- farm, range, and wild animals. The intuitive connection between a animal and a vet is essential in diagnosing, treating, and eventually healing an animal. Animals that won't accept you as their doctor will not heal, especially the higher mammals  -- but that's another story.

My question is -- what came of the examination? Didn't the doctor share any ideas with you, or did he admit "I'm completely stumped?"

And why wait another week for an MRI? Are you a Kaiser patient where resources released on the quota system?

I'm not a medical doctor, but I'm really confused about your treatment plan. Perhaps it's a confusion only in communication?

I also have a problem when you say things like "I am assuming that since I have some numbness, there are nerves involved in my injury."

There's an old saying I used to hear from my grandmother -- The doctor who diagnosis himself (herself) has a fool for a patient.

But in this case, you may have a fool for a doctor, but please, don't make these kinds of assumptions. Numbness or pins and needles, what docs calle called paresthesia, is often a temporary circulatory problem. Hitting your "funny bone" is neurological. Whatever's going on with you is idiopathic at this point -- a word mean who knows?

From reading your story, I have a feeling that your paresthesia is directly related to sitting on the couch for too long. Please try to use pillows, reclining chairs, and other soft devices to find a comfortable position. But then, please get up every couple of hours and walk around the block.

Wish that I could help, but a) I'm disabled and retired also, and b) you would never get used to my bedside (stallside) manner.

Your doctors may very well have done something to damage you during surgery -- it's one of the risks that you accept when signing that consent.

However, you do have a right to getting honest answers, and the best medical care that organization can offer. Should you ever feel that you're being ignored, under-treated, or that your suffering is being minimized, and I saw If and ony if you feel this to be the case, notify your doctor and the chief medical officer of that hospital immediately and in writing, and find yourself a a good medical malpractice patient advocate and attorney, ASAP. Don't hire one off daytime television, but call the ABA.

Sorry, gotta stop writing -- my back hurts after too much sitting, too.

Sending you my best wishes, and I hope it all goes away tomorrow.

--phil